Defensive depth provides nice boost for Raiders

Published: Friday, October 02, 1998

DON WILLIAMSAvalanche-Journal

For all of its lofty rankings on the NCAA charts, the Texas Tech defense might have only one all-America candidate. To date, only end Montae Reagor has commanded that sort of attention. But the defense could not sustain its production level without depth.

The Red Raiders have had to rely on that depth the past two weeks. The response, especially among the linebackers, has been more than enough to help Tech stay unbeaten through four games.

Reagan Bownds, Dorian Pitts and Tim Duffie, none first team at the beginning of the season, have each made contributions, partly because of injuries. Bownds started games against Fresno State and Iowa State and came through with 19 tackles and several key plays.

Bownds and Keith Cockrum alternated series the first two games of the season before Cockrum suffered an ankle injury. Consequently, Bownds has missed only one play defensively the past two games.

''I'm feeling pretty good,'' Bownds said. ''I mean, I get tired at times, but the offense is staying on the field enough and doing a good job controlling the ball that the defense has time to catch our breath and regroup.''

The Raiders expected consistent play from Bownds, who is a junior. He has provided more. In the Fresno State game, the last of Bownds' 10 tackles was the one that led to linebacker Kyle Shipley's game-winning fumble return touchdown. Bownds sacked the quarterback once, too.

In the Iowa State game, he had nine tackles to go along with a fourth-quarter interception that positioned Tech for its final touchdown.

''Reagan just came up with play after play after play,'' Tech coach Spike Dykes said.

Pitts

Dykes admits to some concern about having a 185-pound player going every down at an outside linebacker position. But coming up with eye-catching plays alleviates the worry.

''He's done better than I ever expected,'' Dykes said. ''And I thought he was a good player. But he's really done a great job.''

Pitts did not match Bownds' playing time last Saturday; he guessed he was in on about 10 snaps defensively. But on one, he intercepted Iowa State quarterback Todd Bandhauer and returned the ball 31 yards to the Cyclones' 27.

Although Tech fumbled on the next play, the take-away was worth noting. The Raiders foresee Pitts (6-foot-4, 207 pounds) as a likely successor next season to current senior starter Ty Ardoin.

''I'm just getting a little more experience under my belt in game-time situations because next year I have a great chance of starting,'' Pitts said. ''The little time I'm getting now will help me greatly in the future.''

The Raiders haven't fastened Pitts to the sideline, however. He played on three special-teams units last season as a true freshman. Punt coverage and kickoff coverage occupy much of his time this year.

''I've always taken a lot of pride in special teams,'' Pitts said. ''In high school, they kind of just threw me in there. Here, I aimed at trying to be a member on special teams. It's just another opportunity for me to be out on the field and make big plays.''

In addition the contributions by Bownds and Pitts, Duffie started in place of Kevin McCullar at one of the inside linebacker spots last Saturday and was in on eight tackles.

He could see extensive playing time again Saturday against Baylor as McCullar continues his recovery from a sprained right ankle.